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RIM chief: buggy smartphones the 'new reality'

CEO comes clean

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A Research In Motion (RIM) executive has admitted that malfunctioning smartphones are now par for the course, thanks in part to the complexity and high-volume production of devices like the BlackBerry Storm.

Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-CEO, said that software glitches on smartphones are now part of the “new reality” as firms rush device development in order to meet important sales days, such as Black Friday in North America, according to a Wall Street Journalreport.

The Storm is already a source of frustration for some users, with many online reports having already cited users suffering from a range of bugs, including frozen applications.

But help could be around the corner, for Storm owners at least. Last week, an unofficial firmware update – version 4.7.0.90 – was leaked online. It’s said to provide some respite from frozen applications.

However, early reports have also claimed the update’s more focused on adding new features to the phone. For example, an on-screen keyboard in portrait mode and tweaks to the phone’s GUI. ®